How-to · Step-by-step
How to cite multiple authors
How you cite multiple authors depends on how many there are and on your style: each has thresholds for when to list every name and when to switch to "et al."
The step most authors miss
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Step by step
How to do it
1.Count the authors
Establish exactly how many authors the source has, in the order printed. The count determines which rule applies.
2.Apply the in-text rule
For two authors, name both. For three or more, APA and MLA both shorten to "first author et al." in the in-text citation.
3.Format the reference-list entry
List authors in the published order. APA lists up to 20 names, using an ellipsis before the final author for 21+; MLA lists up to two, then "et al." for three or more.
4.Use the correct connector
APA joins the last two names with an ampersand (&) in references and parenthetical citations; MLA spells out "and". Match the connector to the style.
5.Check for ambiguous shortenings
If "et al." would make two different sources look identical, add enough author names to distinguish them (an APA rule).
APA 7th edition
Two authors: name both every time — (Smith & Jones, 2021); reference list "Smith, J., & Jones, T.". Three or more: use "et al." in every in-text citation — (Smith et al., 2021) — but list up to 20 authors in the reference list. For 21 or more authors, list the first 19, then an ellipsis, then the final author’s name. APA uses an ampersand before the last author.
MLA 9th edition
Two authors: name both, joined by "and" — (Smith and Jones 42); Works Cited "Smith, Jane, and Tom Jones." Three or more authors: name the first followed by "et al." in both the in-text citation — (Smith et al. 42) — and the Works Cited entry — "Smith, Jane, et al." MLA spells out "and" rather than using an ampersand.
Chicago 17th edition (notes–bibliography)
Notes: for up to three authors, name them all; for four or more, name the first followed by "et al." in the note. Bibliography: list up to ten authors in full; for eleven or more, list the first seven followed by "et al." Worked bibliography (three authors): Smith, Jane, Tom Jones, and Amir Khan. The Craft of Citation. New York: Academic Press, 2021.
Common questions
FAQ
When do I switch to "et al." in APA and MLA?+
Both styles switch at three or more authors for the in-text citation, naming only the first author followed by "et al." For one or two authors, name everyone. The difference lies in the reference list: APA lists up to 20 names, whereas MLA already uses "et al." for three or more in Works Cited.
How do I cite 21 or more authors in APA?+
In the reference list, give the first 19 authors’ names, insert an ellipsis (…), then add the final author’s name — you do not use "et al." in the reference list for this case. The in-text citation still uses "first author et al., year".
Do APA and MLA use "and" or "&"?+
APA uses an ampersand (&) before the final author in reference entries and parenthetical citations, but spells out "and" in running text. MLA always spells out "and". Matching the connector to the style is a small but visible marker of correct formatting.
Going deeper
